spbague



(No Model.)

D. D. &P. J. SPRAGUE STRAW STAUKEB FOB. THRASHING MACHINES. No. 298,250.

Patented May 6, 1884.

n. PETER5. Phclo-Ulhoknphur, Washington :1, a

' sills of the machine.

rrnn STATES DUDLEY D. SPRAGUE, OF CALIFORNIA, AND PEARLEY J. SPRAGUIE, OF HIGBEE, MISSOURI.

STRAW STACKER FOR TH RA SHING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,250, dated May 6, 1884.

Application filed January 9, 1884. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, DUDLEY D. SPRAGUE, of California, Moniteau county, and PEARLEY J. SPRAGUE, of Hi gbee, Randolph county, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Straw-Smokers for Thrashing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-,

Figure 1 is a top view showing the elevatorframe and intermediate carrier in line with the Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the frame and carrier turned at right angles to the machine. Fig. 3 is avertical section taken on line 3 3, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective View of the universal coupling.

This invention relates to an improved coupling for connecting the driving-shafts beneath theintermediate carrier-frame which supports the stacker-frame.

The invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, A A represent the sills of a thrashing-machine; B, an intermediate carrier 5 O, a frame which supports the intermediate carrier and to which it is pivoted; D, part of the elevator-frame, and H the raddle-shaft. I represents the shaft which is secured to the frame which supports the inter mediate carrier by j ournal-boxes I. This shaft receives motion from the machine by means of a belt which passes over a pulley, 1 on the outer end of the shaft. J represents the shaft that is secured. to the intermediate carrier by journal-boxes J. This shaft is connected to the raddle-shaft II by a suitable belt, J, running over pulleys secured to the outer ends of the shafts. All of these parts may be of any ordinary specific construction, as there is no connection between their form or construc tion and the essential feature of our present invention.

The driving of the raddle of the elevatorframe with power from the machine, and the connection of the driving-shafts I J in such a manner that they will not interfere with nor themselves be affected by the horizontal vibra- November 20, 1883. To accomplish this same or form.

' tion of the intermediate carrier and elevatorframe, have heretofore been accomplished by means of a pivot-gear arrangement, such as is shown in our Reissue Patent No. 10,406, dated 5 result with a means more simple, more durable, cheaper, and less liable to get out of order, we have devised a novel arrangement of a double universal coupling for connecting-the shafts, which we will now describe. The inner end of each shaft is provided with a yoke or arms, I, of suitable form, and 'to each of the yokes are'secured tumbler-blocks N of any desired shape or form. Ve have shown them (see Fig. 4) consisting of a central body hav ing four arms, to two of which the yokes are secured, and to the other two of which are secured the ends of a connecting block or link, 0, that also may consist of any desired shape The yokcs and connecting block may be secured to the tumbler-blocks by any suitable means. \Ve have shown them connected by means of pins I; but it is necessary. that a journal-connection be made between them to allow the intermediate carrier and the 7 elevator-frame to be turned at an angle to the l machine, and when the parts are in this posi tion the tumbler-blocks would have a wabble motion imparted to them, which also necessitates a journal-connection between them and the yokes and connecting-block. We do not wish to confine ourselves in any way to the shape or form of the tumbler-blocks; and they may consist of mere rings, to which the yokes and connecting-block would be secured; nor do we wish in any way to confine ourselves to the shape or form of the yokes or arms M, or the connecting block or link 0., By this improved manner of connecting the shafts I J the elevator-frame and intermediate carrier 9 may be turned at any angle to the machine Without being interfered with or affecting the operation of the driving mechanism, and there is nothing to wear or get out of order about a connection of this kind, while at the same time it is cheaply produced, is strong, and the friction incident to cog-gearing, above mentioned, is avoided.

It is evident from the nature of our coupling that one of the shafts I J will have to r have a slight emlwise movement, as one is turned at an angle to the other; but this movement is so slight as not to affect the connection between the shaft I and the machine or the shaft J and the raddleshaft; but even this slight endwise movement of the shafts, or one of them, may be avoided, if desired, by simply connecting one of the yokes M to its shaft by means of a feather and groove, to allow it to slide thereon.

"0 claim as our invention 1. In a stacker for thrashirig-machines, the combination of a stacker-frame, a carrier-belt shaft on the stacker-frame, an intermediate frame supporting the stackerframe, (lrivin shafts, and double universal joint connecting the driving-shafts in the vertical pit'otal line of the carrier-frame, as set forth.

2. In combination with a thrashinganachinc DUDLEY D. SPRAGUE. PEARLEY J. SPRAGUE.

Witnesses to the signature of Dudley D. Sprague:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, Si-UIL. KNIGHT. Witnesses to the signature of Pearley J. Sprague:

J. B. TYMONY, J. M. RENNOLDS. 

